The Martial Arts Journal

Issue 1, August 2007

Flying to the Sun by Michael Jay

The first question I am always asked when someone learns of my background is invariably "How did you become a samurai?"

This is a difficult question for the enquirer always wants a quick answer, something which is not possible. Also, no-one can completely understand something without having actually experienced it ...more

Karate Kata by Allan Gill

Kata is, to those who do not practise it, a fairly simple affair. It is commonly thought of as a set of pre-arranged movements, somewhat like a dance. For some people, kata is about performance, the primary goal being to develop the speed, power and timing required to win a coveted trophy. For others, kata is the remains of a long dead tradition that no longer has any place in the modern day ...more

Seitei or Koryu by David Ansell

Iaido is the Japanese art of drawing the sword. This article will explore the relationship between the modern forms of Iaido (called Seitei Iai) and the classical forms of swordsmanship from older schools (called Koryu).

The Seitei Iai sword katas (now more commonly known as Zen ken Ren Iai) were adopted by the all Japan Kendo Federation in the middle seventies ...more

Shiatsu for Warriors by Kris North

For almost a quarter of a century I have studied and taught the art of gentle healing. For twice that time I have studied and taught the arts of war, from boxing at school, to the reality of desert and jungle fighting, through karate to Tai Chi. In that journey I have discovered expected differences and amazing similarities ...more

Kicking the calories by Michael Andreou

Everybody knows that the more calories we can burn the more weight we can lose. Well how can the Martial Arts, and Taekwondo in particular, help?

The more muscles we use the more energy we need to make those muscles work. The bigger the muscles that are working the more energy we need to make them work. Starting to see a pattern yet? ...more